Land-roller.



R. E. DUNHAMf LAND ROLLER.

APPLICATION men mai 1915.

1 1 90, 1 32. Patented July 4, 1916 mm?- M; L

UNITED STATES PATENT ornron.

RAY E. DUNI-IAIVI, OF BEREA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DUNI-IAM COMPANY, OF BER/EA, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OI-IIO.

LAND-ROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 17, 1915. Serial'No. 34,713.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAY E. DUNHAM, a citizen of the United States, resident of Berea, county of Cuyahoga, and State of @1110, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Land-Rollers, of which the following is a specification, the prinoipleof the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to land rollers, its ob ject being to provide aroller having a multiplicity of drum sections, one of which sections may he removed so as to permit the roller as a whole to omit certain portions of the land from its operation, where such omission is desired.

Conversely, another object is to permit of the introduction of a drum section between two separate sections mounted upon the.

, description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which'principle of the invention may beapplied.

In said annexed drawing :Figure 1 represents an end view of a removable drum section forming one element of the complete roller embodying my invention, the said section being illustrated in its closed condition, that is in the condition in which it is mounted upon the axle. Fig. 2 represents an end view similar to that of Fig. 1 showing the section, however, in its open condition, that is, in the condition which it assumes when it is arranged to be removed or replaced on the axle. Fig. 3 represents a bottom plan of said section. Fig. i represents a longitudinal section of said drum section taken upon the plane indicated by line IVIV in Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 5 represents a detailed section, on a slightly enlarged scale, and taken upon the plane indicated by line VV, in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 represents a cross-section taken upon the plane indicated by line VI-YI, in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of a complete roller embodying my invention. Fig. 8 represents a similar perspective showing the intermediate drum section removed. Fig. 9 represents a perspective of such removed drum section. The illustrated embodiment of my invent1on comprises a frame 1 of any suitable construction upon which is mounted in any desired or convenient manner, an axle 2 which extends completely from one side to the other of the frame. Upon this axle are mounted two drum sections 3, 3, each of which comprises two circular heads 4 to which are suitably secured the cylindrical shell 5 made from sheet steel, butt-welded so as to make a continuous and smooth outer surface, as will be readily understood and as is common practice. Each of these heads is formed with a central opening 6 which is surrounded uponvthe outside by a suitable casting 7 preferably riveted to the heads. These two drum sections rotate freely upon the axle, where the latter is held stationary, as shown in the drawing, or may, if desired, be secured to the axle whose ends may be arranged, in such event, to rotate in separate bearings, all as will be readily understood by those skilled in the-art. Also mounted upon the axle and intermediately of the two drum sections 3, 3, is a drum section 8, which also consists of two heads 9, 9, and a cylindrical shell 10- suitably secured thereto;

Each of these heads, however, is split upon a diameter as shown in Figs. 2 and 9 and the ends of the sheet which forms the cylindrical shell, instead of being butt-welded, are secured to each other by means of removable bolts llpassing through suitable registering apertures, as shown in Fig. 5. These ends are capable of overlapping each other as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, but normally assume a separated position, as shown in Fig. 2, when the bolts are removed. In order to secure the bolts, a casting 1:2 is riveted upon the inner surface of the cylindrical shell 10,

as shown in Fig. 5, and is provided with a number of square recesses 12 intersecting that face contiguous to the shell, these recesses being each adapted to hold a nut, the latter being placed in the recess before-the casting is riveted to the shell. The casting is furthermore provided with suitable bolt apertures communicating with the nut recesses respectively, as shown. These nuts provide a suitable thread, as will be readily understood, for screwing the bolts.

The heads 9 of the section 8 are provided with suitable cylindrical openings 13 through which the axle may pass and each opening is surrounded by two split sections 14:, l -i, of a casting which, when the sections are oined, are similar to the castings 6.

When it is desired to remove the intermediate section 8, the screws 11 are removed which permits the section to spring open as shown in Fig. 2. The amount of the sprlng so effected may be increased by manual application of power so as to permit the axle to be removed from the openings 13 and the section to he slid off of same, as will be readily understood. When it is desired to replace the section, the operation is reversed, as is obvious.

By means of the abovedescribed construction, therefore, it will be seen that a continuous roller illustrated in Fig. 7 may be converted into a two-part roller such as illustrated in Fig. 8 so that the latter may be used to roll that part of the soil intermc-- diate of two rows say of vegetable growth planted in rows, when in the early stages of its growth, thereby permitting the plants to be undisturbed while the soil between the rows is being rolled.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a land roller, the combination with a suitable frame; an axle mounted upon the latter; and a plurality of drum sections mounted upon said axle and separated from each other in planes perpendicular to their axis; one of said sections being arranged so as to be removable from the axle in a direction perpendicular to such axis and while the remaining section or sections are in place.

2. In a land roller, the combination of a suitable frame; an axle suitably mounted upon said frame; two end and freely r0- tating drum sections permanently mounted upon said axle; and an intermediate section removably mounted thereon.

3. In a land roller, the combination of a sheet bent into a cylindrical form and having overlapping ends formed with suitable registering apertures for receiving bolts; a casting secured to the interior of the innermost of said overlapping end portions and provided with apertures registering with said bolt apertures and with recesses for re eeiving nuts, said recesses intersecting that face of said casting which is contiguous to said shell; nuts in said recesses; and bolts passing through said apertures and engaging said nuts.

4. In a land roller, the combination of a suitable frame; an axle mounted upon said frame; and a plurality of freely rotating drum. sections mounted upon said axle succeeding each other in the direction of the axis thereof; one of said sections being arranged so as to be removable from said axle while the latter is in place.

5. In a land roller, the combination of a suitable frame; an axle mounted on said frame; and a plurality of freely rotatable drum sections of uniform exterior contour and mounted upon said axle, one of which sections is an intermediate section arranged so as to be removable from said axle while the latter is in place on said frame.

Signed by me, this 15 day of June, 1915.

RAY E. DUNHAM.

Attested by- D. M. FINDLING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

